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Title: IMPACT OF ORGANIC MATTER MANAGEMENT ON PLANT-PARASITIC NEMATODES, THEIR DAMAGE TO HOST CROPS AND SOIL HEALTH

Author
item Widmer, Timothy
item MITKOWSKI, N. - CORNELL UNIVERSITY
item ABAWI, G. - CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2002
Publication Date: 12/1/2002
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Adding organic matter to poor soils has become a major componenet of soil health management programs. Many of the soil¿s properties are directly related to organic matter content and quality. Adding organic matter to soil influences diverse and important biological activities. The diversity and number of free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes are altered by rotational crops, cover crops, green manures, and other sources of organic matter. Soil management programs should include the use of the proper organic materials to improve soil chemical, physical and biological parameters and to suppress plant-parasitic nematodes and soilborne pathogens. It is critical to monitor the affects of organic matter additions on activities of major and minor plant-parasitic nematodes in the production system. This paper presents a general review of information in the literature on the effects of crop rotation, cover crops, and green manures on nematodes and their damage to economic crops.

Technical Abstract: Organic matter and its replenishment has become a major componenet of soil health management programs. Many of the soil¿s physical, chemical, and biological properties are a function of organic matter content and quality. Adding organic matter to soil influences diverse and important biological activities. The diversity and number of free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes are altered by rotational crops, cover crops, green manures, and other sources of organic matter. Soil management programs should include the use of the proper organic materials to improve soil chemical, physical and biological parameters and to also suppress plant-parasitic nematodes and soilborne pathogens. It is critical to monitor the affects of organic matter additions on activities of major and minor plant-parasitic nematodes in the production system. This paper presents a general review of information in the literature on the effects of crop rotation, cover crops, and green manures on nematodes and their damage to economic crops.